Democratic Challenges, Democratic Choices: The Erosion of Political Support in Advanced Industrial Democracies (Comparative Politics)

most Democratic Citizens Today Are Distrustful Of Politicians, Political Parties, And Political Institutions. Where Once Democracies Expected An Allegiant Public, Citizens Now Question The Very Pillars Of Representative Democracy. democratic Challenges, Democratic Choices Documents The Erosion Of Political Support In Virtually All Advanced Industrial Democracies. Assembling An Unprecedented Array Of Cross-national Public Opinion Data, This Study Traces The Current Challenges To Democracy Primary To Changing Citizen Values And Rising Expectations. These Critical Citizens Are Concentrated Among The Young, The Better Educated, And The Politically Sophisticated. At The Same Time, The Evidence Debunks Claims That Such Trends Are A Function Of Scandals, Poor Performance, And Other Government Failures. Changing Public Are Born From The Successful Social Modernization Of These Nations. A Creedal Passion For Democracy Is Sweeping Across The Western Democracies, And People Now Expect More Of Their Governments. This Study Concludes By Examining The Consequences Of These Changing Images Of Government. The Author Finds That These Expectations Are Making Governing More Difficult, But Also Fueling Demands For Political Reform. The Choices That Democracies Make In Response To These Challenges May Lead To A Further Expansion Of The Democratic Process And A New Relationship Between Citizens And Their Government
Most democratic citizens today are distrustful of politicians, political parties, and political institutions. Where once democracies expected an allegiant public, citizens now question the very pillars of representative democracy. Democratic Challenges, Democratic Choices documents the erosion of political support in virtually all advanced industrial democracies. Assembling an unprecedented array of cross-national public opinion data, this study traces the current challenges to democracy primary to changing citizen values and rising expectations. These critical citizens are concentrated among the young, the better educated, and the politically sophisticated. At the same time, the evidence debunks claims that such trends are a function of scandals, poor performance, and other government failures. Changing public are born from the successful social modernization of these nations. A creedal passion for democracy is sweeping across the Western democracies, and people now expect more of their governments. This study concludes by examining the consequences of these changing images of government. The author finds that these expectations are making governing more difficult, but also fueling demands for political reform. The choices that democracies make in response to these challenges may lead to a further expansion of the democratic process and a new relationship between citizens and their government 9780199297900 Contents 10 List of Figures 11 List of Tables 13 1. The Challenge to Democracy 14 PART I. THE EVIDENCE OF CHANGE 32 2. Changing Citizen Orientations 34 PART II. THE SOURCES OF CHANGE 68 3. The Correlates of Political Support 70 4. Social Change and the Accumulation of Incremental Effects 93 5. Value Change and Political Support 110 6. Economic Performance and Political Support 124 7. Policy Preferences and Political Support 141 PART III. THE EFFECTS OF CHANGE 168 8. The Consequences of Political Support 170 CONCLUSION 202 9. Democratic Challenges, Democratic Choices 204 References 222 Index 240 A 240 B 240 C 240 D 240 E 240 F 240 G 240 H 241 I 241 J 241 K 241 L 241 M 241 N 241 O 241 P 241 R 242 S 242 T 242 U 242 V 243 W 243 Z 243 * Publisher: Oxford University Press,USA * Number Of Pages: 244 * Publication Date: 2007-03-12 * ISBN-10 / ASIN: 0199297908 Contents......Page 10 List of Figures......Page 11 List of Tables......Page 13 1. The Challenge to Democracy......Page 14 PART I. THE EVIDENCE OF CHANGE......Page 32 2. Changing Citizen Orientations......Page 34 PART II. THE SOURCES OF CHANGE......Page 68 3. The Correlates of Political Support......Page 70 4. Social Change and the Accumulation of Incremental Effects......Page 93 5. Value Change and Political Support......Page 110 6. Economic Performance and Political Support......Page 124 7. Policy Preferences and Political Support......Page 141 PART III. THE EFFECTS OF CHANGE......Page 168 8. The Consequences of Political Support......Page 170 CONCLUSION......Page 202 9. Democratic Challenges, Democratic Choices......Page 204 References......Page 222 G......Page 240 P......Page 241 U......Page 242 Z......Page 243 Most democratic citizens today are now questioning the very pillars of representative democracy. Democratic Challenges, Democratic Choices uses an unprecedented array of cross-national public opinion surveys to document the erosion of political support in virtually all Western democracies. These trends are making governing more difficult, but also fueling demands for political reform that may lead to a further expansion of the democratic process and a new democraticrelationship between citizens and their governments. - ;Most democratic citizens today are distrustful of politicians, political p "Democratic Challenges, Democratic Choices uses an unprecedented array of cross-national public opinion surveys to document the erosion of political support in virtually all Western democracies. These trends are making governing more difficult, but also fuelling demands for political reform that may lead to a further expansion of the democratic process and a new democratic relationship between citizens and their governments."--Jacket Most democratic citizens today are distrustful of politicians, political parties and political institutions. This text documents the erosion of political support in virtually all advanced industrial democracies